This year, the Boulder Panthers made sure there was no question who was the best wrestling team in the city.

After two straight losses to Fairview on tie-breakers, Boulder dominated this cross-town dual. Following a mix of forfeits and pins to start the evening, the Panthers completely controlled Fairview, outscoring the Knights 30-6 in the last eight matches to beat their rivals for the first time in six years, 48-22.

"This was huge for us, especially since it's been (six) years since we won the dual," sophomore Martin Selby said. "This will help our morale and set us up for a great season."

It was a disappointing loss for the Knights, who had won five in a row in the series.

"It's a little rough we weren't able to come away with the win for the sixth year," Fairview senior Chris Robinson said.

Selby took part in one of the best bouts of the night, edging Melvin Gutierrez at 138 pounds. Trailing 7-6 in the last 30 seconds, Gutierrez ceded an escape point to go for a takedown with 10 seconds left, but Selby held him off.

Had Gutierrez pulled off the late win, the match would have been 27-22 and very much in doubt. Instead, the Panthers were able to keep the Knights at bay.

"We were needing something at that point," Fairview coach Jim Lefebvre said. "I knew we had some young guys coming up and it didn't work out."

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The next match, at 145, was even tighter, and gave the Knights a little hope. Robinson faced a familiar foe in Andre Kornblum in a bout that needed two overtimes to settle. It wasn't until Kornblum was penalized a point for playing to the crowd that the tie was broken, and an escape by Robinson gave him a two-point edge.

He went on to win 5-4.

"This was the third time I wrestled him and he's beaten me the past two. I was looking forward to this match for the past 300 days," Robinson said. "It felt pretty big. I was hoping I could've gotten a pin and maybe that could have changed the momentum."

The Knights were back within eight points after Robinson's win but Boulder finished strong, getting three straight pins to finally get the better of its rival.

"Last year they came in with young kids and beat our seniors. This year we came in with a young team and knocked off some good kids," Panthers coach Glenn Kingsley said. "Until the last couple of matches I didn't think it was going to be easy."

Lefebvre hopes losing to Boulder for the first time in a half a decade will be a motivator for next year.

"I told them sometimes they looked a little lackadaisical in practice and maybe that's what it takes to light the fire," he said. "Next year they'll remember this day and come out with a little more fire."

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